This is a closeup of a burr clover inside the CCAG's TMAD. If you've gone hiking, you've probably noticed that some burrs might get stuck to your clothes. The Burr Clover seed uses this technique to hitch hike on people and animals in order to spread their seed. Although it isn't native, it is found growing across the Mojave Desert.
Here's some burrs inside the TMAD. Once the plant dies, it will be brown.
Are you familiar with barley? This Foxtail barley is native to CA, and is related to the grain that we eat. During the summer, like all annual plants, the barley disperses it's seeds, which grow back the following year. Did you know that the seed head (pictured below) is the barley's flower? If you look closely, you'll see tiny bits of pollen that spread to other plants via the wind. Grasses don't need bees to pollinate them.
Some of our chia seeds are still in their sprouting stage. We are still waiting for them to bloom.
Cholla Cactus
Chollas grow everywhere in the Mojave. These cacti have slender, spiky pads that grow like prickly pears. Some species, like the Teddy Bear Cholla, use their spines to stick to our clothes kind of like burr clover does. These pads that are stuck grow into new plants once removed.
A whole picture of the TMAD shows the wildlife that has sprung to life here: mallows, chia, wild barley and burr clover. We look forward to more spring growth in the next month.
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